ANGELA GEDDES claims dealing with the justice system in this country was just as harrowing as the brutal killing of her mum.

THE devastated family of a mum hacked to death by her husband have slammed the Scottish justice system.

Angela Geddes said they were treated terribly before, during and after her father’s trial for her mum Ann’s brutal axe killing.

She claimed their experience was just as harrowing as the tragedy itself, and insisted the system is more sympathetic to system is more sympathetic to the accused than victims.

Brave Angela, 33, has spoken out in a bid to ensure no other bereaved families have to go through what they have.

Her bullying dad Roger killed Ann, 61, in February 2010 to stop her walking out on him.

He was convicted of culpable homicide later that year.

But the torment for Angela and her family was compounded by the way they were treated throughout the road to justice,

Speaking as the Scottish Government prepare an overhaul of the system to improve the treatment of victims, she revealed how:

?The family missed court appearances because the Crown Office failed to keep them up to date with what was happening.

? They received letters from the killer with no warning from authorities.

? A cold-hearted court official told them judges rarely bother to read victims’ statements to court.

Angela launched a blistering attack on the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS), saying a “complete change in culture” is needed to put victims’ interests first.

“We expected so much more from the justice process,” she said.

“We were so let down on a number of levels that it was shocking, and we know that we are not alone in the ride we had through the system.

“Some of our experiences were basically as bad as losing my mum. So many of those issues have stayed with us and continued to stay with us that we just want to improve the system for others. You have enough to contend with when your mum is killed.”

Retired civil servant Geddes, 63, tied Ann’s hands and repeatedly battered her on the head with the weapon at their home in Carnoustie, Angus.

Ann Geddes

After the killing, he told Angela and Ann’s elderly mum Jean that they couldn’t see her because she was ill in bed.

He even tried to impersonate his victim on the phone. He finally broke down and confessed to killing his wife of 35 years.

Geddes had been facing a murder rap but was allowed to plead guilty to a reduced charge of culpable homicide — meaning he escaped an automatic life sentence.

After the case, the Record told how the family had to pay for Ann’s blood to be removed from the floorboards after the cold-hearted killer put the house on the market and refused to spend money on it.

The revelations shocked the public and led to calls for an overhaul of the justice system.

Now, the Scottish Government are to introduce a new Victims and Witnesses Bill. It will include a “victim’s surcharge” which could be used to pay for cleaning in cases like Angela’s.

Angela submitted evidence to the consultation on the planned laws but worries they will not go far enough.

She said: “While it seems there will be a victim surcharge for house cleaning and things like that, it’s not necessarily the actual costs that are the problem – it is to ensure it is carried out and victims don’t have to fight to have it done.

“It should be done automatically and in a respectful manner by people you can trust.”

She said she is still haunted by the memory of finding her mum’s blood on the floor more than two months after her death.

“We went to the house to collect some of mum’s personal belongings, expecting that a new carpet would have been put down,” she explained.

“But when we went in, the blood stains were still there.

“Because my dad owned the house, he had changed his mind and refused to pay money to have it cleaned up. The memory of having to see the blood stain where my mum was killed will stay with me forever.”

Roger Geddes

The family were also disgusted to receive letters from the killer while he was in Carstairs. They had not been warned this could happen.

But she reserved her greatest anger for the COPFS.

She accused the organisation of a litany of failures, including not keeping her up to date with the case, not providing clear information and treating victims in a heartless manner.

Angela said: “There is a huge chasm to be crossed as far as the attitude of the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Office.

“There is a feeling that they will only give you the bare minimum of information.”

Angela’s heartbreaking insight into how victims of crime are treated in Scotland will make grim reading for politicians.

She is particularly angry that victims are deprived of a voice during court proceedings. They are sometimes allowed to write a personal statement outlining the impact a crime has had.

But Angela said her family were told only four statements could be made for one crime.

As Ann had two brothers, a sister, a mum and a daughter at the time of her death, they faced the prospect of deciding whose grief was more important.

However, all five were eventually allowed to give a victim’s statement after lodging a complaint. Angela said: “It is appalling that you even have to start challenging that kind of thing. Is a brother more than a sister? Is a mother more than a daughter?

“What I feel very passionately about is that if people want to, they should be allowed to read their statement out in court.

“I was told by one senior court official that judges rarely read victims’ statements. That is wrong. At the moment, victims have no voice in court. It is important they are given one.”

She said she hoped the Government will include the measure when they lodge the Victims Bill at Holyrood in the next few months.

“We need to make it clear that the system should be focused around the victim and not the criminal,” Angela said.

“But while I support the bill, the main change I want is a cultural change within the COPFS. They have to become a lot more customer focused.

“They are a publicly funded body and they need to ensure that people have as smooth a ride as possible through the system. It’s about respect and communication.”

A spokesman for the Crown Office said they welcomed the Victims Bill. He added: “We did meet Ms Geddes and her family on a number of occasions at the time to discuss their concerns and ensure they were informed and updated.”

A Scottish Government spokeswoman said they take the views of victims of crime “very seriously”.

She added: “Every victim is one too many and the impact of crime can live on long after the justice system has moved on.

“When people do become victims, they are entitled to receive high quality support, the right information at the right time and a chance to have their voices heard.”

She said the Bill would “improve the way cases are managed, create a duty on public agencies to set clear standards of service for victims and witnesses, improve access to information for victims and widen access to special measures for vulnerable witnesses giving evidence in court”.